Ironing board cord holder



1969 F. c. SCHWANEKE IRONING BOARD CORD HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledDec. 8, 1967 VII/J m INVENTOR.

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IRONING BOARD CORD HOLDER Filed Dec. 8, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ff'adzjz'd/z dfifiwazzefl M $4 Y'MTTORNEYS 3,473,767 IRONING BOARD CORDHOLDER Fredrich C. Schwaneke, Chicago, 111., assignor to NorthernElectric Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 8,1967, Ser. No. 689,075

Int. Cl. F161 3/00 US. (ll. 248-51 21 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREA universal bracket and clamp asssembly for a cord holder to be mountedon an ironing board which can be mounted on a number of ironing boardtypes and having a stored position so the cord holder is positivelylocked out of the way to prevent snagging and catching of material onthe cord holder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to abracket for cord holder for an ironing board and in particular to abracket which may be mounted on a number of ironing boards of difierenttypes and which allows the cord holder to be stored out of the waybeneath the board when not in use.

The power cord of an iron often gets in the way of the user. It has beenfound that by supporting the cord above the ironing board the cord isout of the users way. Prior ironing cord holders attachable to ironingboards were designed primarily for ironing boards of particular sizes.There are many variations in ironing boards since they are made indifferent sizes, and are constructed of different materials. Thedownwardly extending rims formed about metal boards are of differentsizes and shapes. Ironing boards are covered by a pad SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION It is an object of the present invention, therefore, toprovide a novel bracket for a cord holder for an ironing board which maybe mounted on many types of boards.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bracket for a cordholder for an iron in which the cover of the ironing board may be easilyremoved and replaced without removing the cord holder.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bracket for a cordholder for an ironing board in which all sharp points of the holdingbracket are positioned so that they do not engage and catch on materialbeing ironed.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a pivoted cordholder for an iron which pivots to a stored position so that it issubstantially under the ironing board.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a positive lockingmeans for an ironing board cord holder which will positively lock theholder in the used or stored positions.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an adjustable clampfoot for use with a bracket for an iron cord holder which may bepositioned to selected positions for engaging and locking the bracket toironing boards of different configurations.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a clamp for anironing cord holder which has a clamp that in response to beingtightened draws an upper surface of its mounting bracket against a lowersurface of the ironing board.

ted States Patent 3,473,767 Patented Oct. 21, 1969 'ice A feature ofthis invention is found in the provision for a bracket for a cord holderfor an ironing board which is adaptable to be connected to a number ofdifferent types and shapes of ironing boards and which may be firmly andsecurely attached to the ironing board. A positive lock assures that thecord holder may be retained in any one of four positions. The cordholder is pivoted on an axis so that when moved from the operatingposition to the stored position the cord holder moves out of the wayunder the ironing board. A clamp assembly forms a part of the mountingbracket and has an adjustable clamp foot. The clamp foot is pivotallyattached to the clamp assembly and may be positioned in one of twoselected positions.

Further features, objects and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent from the following description and claims when read in View ofthe drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of an ironingboard with a cord holder;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the cord holder;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the bracket of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the bracket;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line VV of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the bracket with the clamp assemblyin position;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the clamp assemy;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the clamp assembly with the clamp foot rotatedrelative to FIGS. 6 and 7; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the clamp assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGURE 1 shows an ironing board10 with an ironing cord holder 16 mounted on it. The ironing board has atop 11 and legs 12 and 13 with feet 14 and 15. The cord holder 16 has acord supporting member 17 which carries a cord retainer 18 at its upperend thereof. A spring 19 connects the support 17 to the bracket assembly20 which is attached to the ironing board.

A power outlet socket 21 is attached to the bracket assembly 20 and hasan extension cord 22 with a plug 23 for connecting into a suitableelectrical outlet. As best shown in FIGURES 2-5, the power outlet 21 andspring 19 are connected to a bracket assembly 20 comprising a firstcrank-shaped member 24 which has a first portion 26 to which the poweroutlet 21 is connected by rivets or other suitable means. A retainerpoint 27 is formed at the upper end of portion 26 and fits into thelower end of spring 19 to firmly attach the spring 19 and supportingmember 17 to the bracket 20. The other end 29 of crank-shaped member 24extends generally downwardly and inwardly relative to the edge of theironing board. A second crank-shaped member 31 has a first portion 32formed with an opening 33 and a second portion 34 at right angles to theportion 32. An inwardly and downwardly extending third portion 36 ofmember 31 is pivotally attached to portion 29 of the member 24 by a pin37. The pin 37 is attached by a rivet 38 or other suitable means 38 tothe portion 29 and extends through an opening formed in the portion 36.The pin 37 has an enlarged head 39 and a spring 41 is mounted betweenthe head 39 and the portion 36.

The member 31 is wider than member 24 and locking means are formed inthe portion 36 of member 31 to positively lock the bracket member 24 tothe bracket memher 31. To accomplish this, a pair of projections 42 and43 are formed in either side of the portion 36 and fit on either side ofthe portion 29 of the bracket member 24. The extensions 42 and 43, asbest shown in FIGURE 3 are formed above the point of pivot of the pin 37and engage the outer edge of the member 24 so as to positively andfirmly lock the bracket in one of four positions.

By pushing the member 24 to the left relative to FIG- URE 4, the portion29 will clear the projections 42 and 43 and the portion 24 may bepivoted to the left or right into second and third locked storagepositions. In these positions the projections 42 and 43 engage the sideedge of the member 24 to hold it. If for any reason it is desired topivot the bracket member 24 to a down position relative to FIGURE 4, itmay also be moved to that locked position by pushing the member 24 tothe left relative to FIGURE 4, and moving member 24 until it has beenreversed 180 relative to FIGURE 4. The projections 42 and 43 will fit oneither side of portion 29 to lock it in that position. Note thatprojections 42 and 43 are not aligned with pin 37 but are above pin 37relative to FIG- URE 5. This increases their moment arms relative to thepivot point and results in a more efiective lock. The opening 33 may beused to mount the bracket assembly on a wood or metal ironing board.FIGURE 4 illustrates a wood board 46 with a wood screw 44 mountedthrough opening 33 of portion 32 and into the board 46. An ironing boardpad 47 is mounted on top of the ironing board 46, and an ironing boardcover 48 with downwardly extending side 49 fits over the ironing boardpad and portion 33 of member 31. The cover fits under the ironing boardand is held by a draw string 51. The bracket assembly could also bemounted on the downwardly extending edge of a metal board by using abolt and nut instead of the screw 44.

Such an arrangement allows the ironing board cover 48 to extenddownwardly over any sharp edges formed on portions 32 and 34 of bracketmember 31. The portions 29 and 36 of the bracket assembly are mountedunder the confines of the ironing board and pieces being ironed will notcatch on them.

In use, the structure of FIGURE 4 is used by inserting plug 23 into asuitable power outlet and the plug of an iron (not shown) is inserted inthe outlet 21. The cord of the iron is placed in and held by the cordretainer 18 of the support 17, and the iron is ready for use. The ironscord sometimes exerts pressure on the cord retainer 18 and support 17and the spring 19 allows some movement of the support. However, thebracket assembly of this invention is firmly attached to the ironingboard and the locking lugs 42 and 43 firmly hold member 24 to member 31so that pivoting does not occur about the pin 37.

When ironing has been completed the support may be moved to the storedposition by moving support 17 and member 24 to the left relative toFIGURE 4 so that the locking lugs 42 and 43 disengage the sides ofportion 29, and the member 24 may then be pivoted down under the ironingboard 46. It is to be particularly noted that the portion 36 does notform a right angle with the bottom of the board 46 but extends to theright relative to FIGURE 4, so that the pivot axis of the pin 37 is nothorizontal. This results in the cord support 17 moving under the boardas it is pivoted to the stored position. It will be substantially out ofthe way and will minimize the space required for storing the board.

FIGURES 6 through 9 illustrate a clamp assembly designated generally as51. The clamp assembly 51 is attachable to the bracket assembly toattach the cord holder to channel type board with downwardly extendingedges. The clamp assembly 51 comprises a clamp foot 52 of generallyV-shape formed with outwardly extending lugs 53, 54, 56 and 53a, 54a and56a (not shown). The central portion 57 of the clamp foot 52 is formedwith an opening 58 through which a projection 59 of a clamp member 61loosely extends. The end 60 of the projection 59 is upset so that theclamp foot 52 is loosely held to the clamp member 61. As best shown inFIGURE 9, the clamp member 61 is formed of three sections, afoot-supporting section 62, a central section 63 and a short bracketassembly engaging portion 64. A thumb screw 66 is received through anopening formed in the central portion 63 with a bearing washer 68 underit and a retaining washer 67 of fiber material is mounted on screw 66 onthe other side of portion 63.

A threaded opening 69 is formed through portion 36 of the bracket member31. The opening is formed between lugs and portion 36 of the member 31.The threaded portion 71 of thumb screw 66 is received through opening 69and the thumb screw extends generally parallel to pin 37. Applicant hasdiscovered that if the mounting pin 59 and thumb screw 66 are between 8and 15 from the horizontal (relative to FIGURE 6) rather than in thehorizontal plane that a number of advantages result.

The clamp assembly 51 allows the bracket assembly 20 to be attached tomany difierent types of ironing boards. As shown in FIGURES 7 and 8,ironing boards have downwardly extending channels of differentconfigurations. The ironing board in FIGURES 6 and 7 has a channel 72formed with an indentation 73 and an inwardly extending ledge 75 and anupwardly extending lip 74. The clamp foot 52 may be positioned so thatthe lugs 53 through 56 and 53a through 560 engage respectively upper andlower portions 76 and 77 of the channel 72 so the V portion of the foot52 fits about the indentation 73. as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7. FIGURE 7illustrates how the foot 52 may be mounted behind the lip 74. The foot52 is pivotally connected to member 61 which allows the foot to be overthe lip 74 into position. After the foot 52 has been positioned into thechannel 72, as shown in FIGURE 7, the clamp assembly 51 may be attachedto the bracket assembly 20, as shown in FIGURE 6. my threading the thumbscrew 66 into the opening 69 formed in portion 36 of the member 31. Asshown in FIGURE 0. the portion 33 of the bracket member 31 engages theouter wall of channel 72. The pad 47 is mounted on the top 11 of theboard and the cover 48 is fitted over the board and downwardly overportion 33 and is held beneath the portion 34 of the bracket assembly bya draw string 51. The screw 66 is tightened until the unit is firmlyattached to channel 72.

FIGURE 8 illustrates an ironing board with a downwardly extending rib 79formed with a folded back end 81. The center portion 80 is depressed asshown. To attach the bracket assembly to this board the foot 52 1Sturned from its position in FIGURES 6 and 7 and the extensions 54 and54a engage the center portion 80 and the folded back end 81 to lock thebracket assembly to the board.

The angle at which thumb screw 66 is mounted on :he bracket assemblycauses a downward force to be applied by the projections 54 and 54a onthe end 81. As the thumb screw is tightened, the clamp assembly 51 isrigidly attached to the bracket assembly and the board. The portion 64-is shorter than portion 62 and the foot 52 will be positively heldagainst the rib 79.

The angle of the pin 39 with respect to the horizontal controls theextent that the support 17 will swing under the ironing board. Bybending the end portion 36 between the thumb screw 66 and the pin 39,this angle may be adjusted, for example, to 8 from the horizontal.

It is seen that this invention provides a bracket assembly which may bemounted to an ironing board directly or with a clamp assembly. Thebracket members 61, 31 and 24 may be made of flat metal stock, forexample.

The principles of the invention explained in connection with thespecific exemplifications thereon will suggest many other applicationsand modifications of the same. it is accordingly desired that inconstruing the breadth of the appended claims they shall not be limitedto the specific details shown and described in connection with theexemplifications thereof.

I claim:

1. An electric cord holder for being attached to an ironing boardcomprising;

(a) a pair of crank-shaped members having end portions and middleportions;

(b) a first end portion of the second crank-shaped member beingengageable with the ironing board;

(c) attaching means pivotally connecting the second end portions of thefirst and second crank-shaped members together;

(d) a cord-supporting member attached to the first end portion of thefirst crank-shaped member; and

(e) the first end portions of the crank-shaped members extending innon-parallel relation to the second end portions.

2. A cord holder according to claim 1 having locking means for holdingthe first and second crank-shaped members in selected positions.

3. A cord holder according to claim 2, wherein the locking meanscomprises a pair of projections formed on one of the second end portionsengageable with the edges of the other second end portion.

4. A cord holder according to claim 3, wherein the one of the second endportions is wider than the other second end portion and the projectionsare formed by upsetting the edges of the one second end portions.

5. A cord holder according to claim 4, wherein the projections formed onone of the second portions are out of alignment with the attachingmeans.

6. A cord holder according to claim 1, wherein the attaching meanscomprises a pin attached to one of the econd end portions, an openingformed in the other second end portion and the pin receivable therein,and biasing means attached to the pin for resiliently holding the secondend portions together.

7. A cord holder according to claim 6, in which the biasing meanscomprises a spring, a head formed on the pin beyond the confines of thesecond end portions, and the spring mounted between the head and thesecond end portions.

3. A cord holder according to claim 1, wherein the second end portionsof the first and second crank arms make an angle in the range of 5 to 30with the first end portions of the first and second crank arms.

9. A cord holder according to claim 1, wherein, the second end portionsof the first and second crank arms make an angle in the range of 5 to 15with the first end portions of the first and second crank arms.

10. A cord holder according to claim 1, wherein the second end portionsof the first and second crank arms make an angle of about 8 with thefirst end portions of the first and second crank arms.

11. A cord holder according to claim 1 for being attached to an ironingboard having a downwardly extending channel, including a clamp assemblyhaving adjustable mounting means attaching the clamp assembly to thesecond end portion of the second crank-shaped member and having achannel engaging portion adapted to lock the second crank-shaped memberto the ironing board.

12. A cord holder according to claim 11, wherein the channel engagingportion is at one end of the clamp assembly.

13. A cord holder according to claim 12, wherein the other end of theclamp assembly is engageable with the second end portion of the secondcrank-shaped member.

14. A cord holder according to claim 11 wherein the clamp assemblycomprises a clamp member and said channel engaging portion comprises aclamp foot mountable on one end of the clap member and operatively'associated with the first end portion of the second crankshaped membersuch that the channel of the board is clamped between the clamp foot andfirst end portion of the second crank-shaped member.

15. A cord holder according to claim 14, wherein said clamp foot isgenerally V-shaped and is pivotally attached to the clamp member suchthat it can be moved to different engaging positions.

16. A cord holder according to claim 15 having a plurality of lugsattached to ends of the clamp foot.

17. A cord holder according to claim 11, in which the mounting meanscomprises a threaded shaft which is attached to the clamp assembly andis threaded into the second end portion.

18. A cord holder according to claim 17, wherein the threaded shaftcomprises a thumb screw.

19. A cord holder according to claim 17, wherein the second end portionsof the first and second crank arms make an angle in the range of 5 to 30with the first end portions of the first and second crank arms.

20. A cord holder according to claim 17, wherein the second end portionsof the first and second crank arms make an angle in the range of 10 to20 with the first end portions of the first and second crank arms.

21. A cord holder according to claim 18, wherein the second end portionsof the first and second crank arms make an angle of about 15 with thefirst end portions of the first and second crank arms.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,530,529 3/ 1925 Weber 248291 X2,546,589 3/1951 Felts 248-51 2,488,255 11/ 1949 Allen 248-51 1,363,23112/1920 Danly 248--289 X CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Primary Examiner US. Cl.X.R.

